Constant-height vertical support device, in particular for tanks



E. DELEUZE Aug. 17, 1965 CONSTANT-HEIGHT VERTICAL SUPPORT DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR TANKS Filed Deo. 29, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l /m/ewroe 500m/Pp a Ez/ZE 5y www H TTOPNEYS Al1g 17, 1965 E. DELEUZE 43,201,076

CONSTANT-HEIGHT VERTICAL SUPPORT DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR TANKS Filed Dec. 29, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F ig.2

/N VEN T0 E 522004@ a 5025 Hyg/wwf A TTOPNE YS United States Patent O CONSTANT-l-EEGHT VERTICAL SUPPORT DEVCE, 1N PARTHCULAR FR TANKS Edouard Deleuze, Paris, France, assigner to Commist sarat a lidnergie Atomique, Paris, France Filed Dec. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 163,306

Claims priority, application France, 1an. 2S, 1961,

8 Claims. (Cl. 248-451) The present invention has for its object a constantheight vertical support device which can be putto use in particular for the purpose of supporting tanks such as nuclear reactor Vessels.

It is known that for the suspension of tanks or Vessels of this type, which must be carried into effect with a limited number of bearing members, it is essential on the one hand `to prevent the bott-om of the tank from being subjected to local stresses and on the other hand to maintain the absolute horizontality of the bottom of the tank at a constant level with respect to the floor, in spite of the effect of the high temperatures to which the tank and its contents are heated, and it is additionally necessary to maintain an unalterable position of the vertical axis of the tank while nevertheless permitting the radial expansions of the bottom of the tank to take place. l

. "I'ihe vertical `support device which forms` t-he subject of the present invention provides a means of satisfying the above condition.

In accordance with the present invention, the device comprises a plurality of equidistant vertical pillars on each of which the bottom of the tank -is supported through the intermediary of a universal coupling or Cardan-type coupling, each pillar being constituted between its seating and the Cardan-type coupling by a succession of load-transmission members placed in series and which are compensated for expansion, which ensure the maintenance of the tank bottom at a constant level and which have a limited ilexibility in the radial direction in order to provide `for the radial expansions of the tank.

Reference being made to the accompanying drawings, the description which now follows below relates to a particular form of embodiment of a vertical support device in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a vertical cross-sectional view of one pillar of the device;

FiG. 2 is a View of the top portion of a pillar seen in cross-section along line II--II of FlG. l, and

FIG. 3 is a plan view on a smaller scale showing the arrangement of the pillars beneath the tank. The bottom 1 of the tank 2 is supported by a plurality of equidistant and vertical pillars resting on a common bed-plate 3 which is anchored to the door, either directly or through the intermediary of jacks or like supports which ca-n be adjusted for height and which have not been illustrated` in the drawings. l

`The coupling between the bottom 1 of the tank and each pillar is effected by means of a pivotal mounting of the Cardan type. To this end, the top portion of the pillar comprises a stirrup 4 pivotally mounted on a hollow shaft ice rup 4 and is centered in the cylindrical bore of a flange 13 which is fixed on the underface of the tank.

It will be understood that, irrespective of the angle at which the pillar could be inclined with respect to the vertical, the load transmitted to the stirrup 4 of the pillar is uniformly distributed on each side of the pillar and over the entire extent of the bearing surfaces constituted by the sole-pieces 9, in a direction which is always at right angles to the said bearing faces. In this manner, those local overloads which would subject the bottom of the tank to stresses which wouldbe liable to deform this latter land thus interfere with the horizontality thereof are in the first place avoided.

The stirrup 4 is extended downwardly by a tubular member 14, the bottom portion of which is fitted with a` flange 15 which is guided inside the central bore of a solepiece 16, this latter being supported on a footing-block which is integral with the bed-platet.

The stirrup 4 bears at 17 on a sleeve 18 centered in a cylinder 19 to which the said sleeve is rigidly fixed in the axial direction by means of a threaded portion 20; The

cylinder 19 in turn bears at 21 on a guide ring 22 which is t centered on the tubular member 14 by virtue of the bore of this latter which forms a` knuckle-joint. p p

The guide ring 22 bears at 23 on a `tuble 24 which surrounds `the member 14 and which in turn bears at 25 on a guide 26 which is rigidly fixed by means of a threaded portion 27 to a tube 2S.

The tube 23 is in turn rigidly secured at the top portion thereof by means of a threaded portion 29 to a guide 30 which bears at 31 on a tube 32, the said tube 32 resting at 33 on the sole-piece 16. p

The cylinder 19 is centered in a ange 34 which is integral with a tubular sheath 35, the said sheath being welded at the bottom portion thereof inside a sleeve 36 which is secured to the sole-piece 16.

The guide 26 ensuresthat, by virtue of spherical bearings 37 and 38, the bottom portion of the assembly which is formed by the tubes 24 fand 28 `is guided over the tubular member 14 and inside the tube 32; similarly, the guide 39 ensures that,by virtue of spherical bearings 39 and 4l), the top portion of the assembly which is formed by the tubes 28 and32 is guided over the tube 24 and inside the sheath 35.

FIG. l shows that under theeifect of the loadwhich is supported by the pillar, the tubes 24 and 32 work in i of the bringing up to temperature lof the tank 2, the vari- 5 which is centered through the intermediary of bearingi The centering of the pillar with respect to the bottom of the tank iseflected bymeans of a ball and socket or spherical knuckle-joint 12 which is integral with the stirations in the lengths of the tubes 24 and 32 in the direction of an upward lift of the tank are compensated by the variation in length of the tube28 in the direction of the downward displacement of the said tank, and it accordingly results therefrom that the distance between the bottom bearing-surface 33 of the tube 32 which rests on the sole-piece 1@ and the bearing surface 23 of the ring 22 which rests on the tube 24 remains substantially constant, irrespective in any case of the distribution of tem perature along the pillar.

This arrangement makes it possible to maintain the plane of bearing of the tank bottom on the pillars at a distance with respect to the floor which is substantially constant, both at the low temperatures which correspond to the shut-down of the installation as well as at the temperatures which correspond to the different operating conditions.

The initialadjustment of the height of the pillar with aview to ensuring on the one hand the perfect horizontality of the tank and on the other hand the uniform distribution of the load over all the pillars is carried into effect by screwing the sleeve ilS inside the cylinder 19. The said cylinder il@ is secured against rotation by means of keys il which are brought to bear against the flange Eid which is integral with the tubular sheath 35. The said keys nevertheless permit of axial sliding of the cylinder lli? inside the fiange 34 as and when variations of temperature occur.

FIG. 3 shows in plan and on a smaller scale, the

arrangement of the different pillars which support the tank. The five pillars provided are equidistant from each other and with respect to the vertical axis d of the tank; moreover, the distance between the two areas or faces of the tank which bear on the two sole-pieces 9 of one pillar is equal to the distance between two sole-pieces 9 which form part of two adjacent pillars. The ra-dial expansions of the tank bottom produce identical elastic deformations of the pillars, by Virtue of a `pre-determined flexibility with which the sheath 35 of each pillar is endowed. Irrespective of the elastic deformation which is imposed upon the pillars, the areas or faces of the tank bottom which bear on the solepieces 9 of the pillars 4remain horizontal.

At the time of radial shrinkage of the tank bottom, the heads of the pillars are brought back simultaneously towards the vertical axis of the tank; it should be noted that, whatever may be the value of the expansions or contractions of the tank bottom, the elastic restoring forces provided by the fiexible sheaths 35 contribute to maintaining the tank in the position in which this latter is centered on its vertical axis t).

In order to prevent twisting movements of the tank about its vertical axis il, the sheath 35 of each pillar is provided with two ribs 42 (as shown in FIG. 2), which increasethe moment of inertia of the sheath in the plane lat right` angles to the radial plane of expansion. These ribs are each engaged in the space between the depending legs of a stirrup member 43 which Ais integral with the Cardan frame '7.

A In order to prevent the possible buckling of the tubes Z8 and 32 which work in compression, spacing rings 44 and 45 are provided in the appropriate places.

What I claim is:

1. A constant-height pillar for transmitting a vertical load from a wall to a base, comprising: a series of concentric, tubular, load transmitting elements; means connecting said elements with the inner yand outer of said concentric elements being subjected to compression forces by said load and with an element arranged between said inner `and -outer elements being subjected to tensile forces by said load, said elements subjected to compression forces being formed of metal having a low coeliicient of expansion and said element subjected to tensile forces being formed of metal having a high coefficient of expansion, said elements being so constructed that the thermal dilations of said elements subjected to compression forces compensate the thermal dilations of said element subjected to tensile forces; a base; means connecting the lower end of one of said inner and said outer concentric elements to said base; stirrup means mounted on the upper end of the other of said inner and said outer concentric elements; a frame; means pivotally mounting said frame on said stirrup means for movement about an axis extending normal to the axis of said elements; spaced, axially aligned, bearing support means carried by said frame and disposed on opposite sides of said pivotal axis of said frame, the axis of said spaced bearing support means extending normal to the pivotal axis of said frame and normal to the axis of said elements; and -a friction plate for engaging said Wall pivotally mounted on each of said bearing support means for movement labout said axis of said bearing support means.

2. A constant-height pillar as defined in claim 1 includlng -a tubular metal guide sheath arranged concentric Cil with said elements `and enclosing them; means connecting the lower end of said sheath with said base, and bearing vmeans extending between the upper end of said guide sheath and the upper end of one 4of said elements permitting relative axial movement of said sheath with respect to said pillar.

3. A constant-height pillar'as defined in claim 2, including stiffening means extending longitudinally of said guide sheath and disposed on opposite sides thereof, said stiiiening means being rigidly secured to the outer surface of said sheath for increasing the resistance of said guide sheath :and pillar enclosed thereby to bending in the direction of a ver-tical plane passing through said stiifening means.

4. A constant-height pillar as defined in claim 3 wherein the upper portion of `said stiffening means terminates adjacent to said frame, and rigid leg means are carried by said frame and are disposed laterally of said upper portions and in 'close proximity thereto for sliding cooperation therewith, whereby said frame is non-rotatably mounted with respect t-o lsaid sheath.

5. A constant-height pillar as defined in cla-im l including a spherical knuckle-joint extending upwardly from said stirrup means and rigid therewith for engaging in the bore of :a ange rigid with the bottom wall of lthe tank whereby the upper end of said pillar is pivotally connected Ito :the trank bottom -for movement therewith. j 6. A constant-heifrht pillar as defined in claim ll in which said base has a bore formed .therein lin axial alignment with the axis of `said elements, and a tubular guidey member is rigidly connected at one end thereof with said stirrup means and extends downwardly through said inner element, the 4other end of said tubular guide member being disposed -in said bore and defining a bearing having a sliding @bearing fit in said bore for providing an inner guiding structure for said pillar.

7: A constant-height support device foi' a tank, comprising: a plurality of vertical pillar `structures equiangularly spaced around Ithe Vertical axis of said tank and each -pillar transmitting part of the weight of the tanlcto 'a base, each of :said pillar structures comprising: a series of concentric tubular load bearing elements; means connecting'said elements with the inner and outer lof said concentric elements `being subjected to compression Iforces by said Itank land with an element arranged between said inner and said outer elements being -subjected to tensile forces :by said tank, said elements subjected to compresvsion forces being formed of metal having a low coefficient ofhexpansion and said element subjected to tensile forces being formed of a metal having a high coefiicient of expansion, said elements fbeing so constructed that the thermal dilations of said elements subjected to compression forces compensate the thermal dilation-s of Vsaid element subjected to tensile forces; a base; means connecting the lower end of one of said inner Iand said outer concentric elements -to said ibase; stirrup means mounted on the upper end of the other of said inner and said outer concentric elementsga frame; means pivotally mounting said frame on said stirrup means for movement about an axis extending normal to the axis of said elements; spaced, axially aligned, bearing support means carried by said frame and disposed on opposite sides of said pivotal axisrof said iranien the axis of said spaced bearing support means extending normal to the pivotal axis of said frame and normal to the axis of said elements; a friction plate engaging the bottom wall ofv said tank pivotally mounted on each of' said bearing support means for movement about said axis of said bearing support means and means extending upwardly from said stirrup means and rigid therewith engaging in the bore of a flange rigid with the bottom wall of the tank whereby the upper end of said pillars are connected t-o the tank bottom.

S. A constant-height support device for a tank as defined in `claim 7 including a tubular, metal guide sheath ar- Iranged concentric with said elements and enclosing them;

means connecting the lower end -of :said sheath With said i base; bearing means extending :between the upper end of said guide sheath and the upper end of one of said elements permitting relative axial movement of said sheath with respect to said pillar; and stiiening means extending longitudinally of said guide sheath and disposed on opposite sides thereof, said stiiening means being rigidly secured to the outer surface `of said `sheath for increasing the resistance of said `guide sheath and pillar enclosed thereby to bending in lthe direction of `a. Vertical plane passing through said stifening means, said pill-ar structures 'bei-ng angularly located so that the direction of minimum resistance to bending is radial to said tank axis, permitting limited dilation of the tank in said radial direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,955,191 4/34 Kay 24S- 151 2,368,192 1/45 Bishop 248*179 X 2,865,828 12/58 Long 263-46X 2,936,978 5/60 Lauer 248 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,167,165 7/58 France.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner. 

1. A CONSTANT-HEIGHT PILLAR FOR TRANSMITTING A VERTICAL LOAD FROM A WALL TO A BASE, COMPRISING: A SERIES OF CONCENTRIC, TUBULAR, LOAD TRANSMITTING ELEMENTS; MEANS CONNECTING SAID ELEMENTS WITH THE INNER AND OUTER OF SAID CONCENTRIC ELEMENTS BEING SUBJECTED TO COMPRESSION FORCES BY SAID LOAD AND WITH AN ELEMENT ARRANGED BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER ELEMENTS BEING SUBJECTED TO TENSILE FORCES BY SAID LOAD, SAID ELEMENTS SUBJECTED TO COMPRESSION FORCES BEING FORMED OF METAL HAVING A LOW COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION AND SAID ELEMENT SUBJECTED TO TENSILE FORCES BEING FORMED OF METAL HAVING A HIGH COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION, SAID ELEMENTS BEING SO CONSTRUCTED THAT THE THERMAL DILATIONS OF SAID ELEMENTS SUBJECTE TO COMPRESSION FORCES COMPENSATE THE THERMAL DILATIONS OF SAID ELEMENT SUBJECTED TO TENSILE FORCES; A BASE; MEANS CONNECTING THE LOWER END OF ONE OF SAID INNER AND SAID OUTER CONCENTRIC ELEMENTS TO SAID BASE; STIRRUP MEANS MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END OF THE OTHER OF SAID INNER AND SAID OUTER CONCENTRIC ELEMENTS; A FRAME; MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID FRAME ON SAID STIRRUP MEANS FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF SAID ELEMENTS; SPACED AXIALLY ALIGNED, BEARING SUPPORT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME AND DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PIVOTAL AXIS OF SAID FRAME, THE AXIS OF SAID SPACED BEARING SUPPORT MEANS EXTENDING NORMAL TO THE PIVOTAL AXIS OF SAID FRAME AND NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF SAID ELEMENTS; AND A FRICTION PLATE FOR ENGAGING SAID WALL PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID BEARING SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT SAID AXIS OF SAID BEARING SUPPORT MEANS. 